Robert S McGarigle's Obituary
Robert S. McGarigle, Jr. was born on June 2, 1936 in Portland, Oregon. He arrived to his parents, Genevieve (Sharman) McGarigle and Robert Sheldon McGarigle, Sr., and sister Meave. Early in his life the family relocated to San Diego, California to join their extended family. Robert, or “Bobby” as he was known, grew up in the Grossmont area, graduating from Grossmont High School in 1955. He spent these teen/early adult years running around with his lifelong friends and pursuing his love of cars. He would talk about so many different cars he owned and worked on over the years!
Robert enlisted in the USAF in 1955, serving as a Radar Technician until 1959. He subsequently went to work for Control Data, a company that designed and produced some of the first applied computer hardware for corporations and the government. There, he met a coworker who would become the love of his life, Peggy O. Biggs. They married in 1966 and had two children, Rebecca Lynn (McGarigle) Parham and Edward Wayne McGarigle, and lived in San Diego amongst their extended families.
Robert, Peggy and the kids subsequently moved to San Bernadino in 1972 when he enlisted with the Air National Guard, and to Fresno in 1974 when he was transferred. He worked for the Air Guard in Fresno as a combat jet Radar Technician for the rest of his career. He was highly successful in this role; combining his knowledge of radar, computer, electrical, and automotive technology. He became known for his comprehensive expertise and was often given tasks that required deep investigation, troubleshooting, and inventive solutions. In this work, he also mentored many up-and-coming colleagues, sharing his technical knowledge and passion for their mission. He retired in 1996.
Robert also used that knowledge at home. He could repair or invent practically anything—toys, cars, or house. He rehabbed a Volkswagen bug with/for Ed during his teen years. He also invented innumerable quirky, useful upgrades for the house. The family joke was when the house was sold it was going to need an instruction manual to go with it! Ultimately, when his house was sold, the inspector was so impressed that she called him to congratulate him for his competency and inventiveness.
Robert and Peggy were quite the team; they shared a lot of personal and professional interests. They worked together, raising the kids, camping, and working through life’s trials and tribulations. Peggy’s sudden illness and death in 1998 was truly difficult for him. When he got his bearings he tried dating and married again, but ultimately this relationship ended in divorce. He spent most of his retirement years at his home in Fresno, staying in contact with his kids, family, childhood friends, work colleagues, and extensively researching every interest and everything he could possibly think of on the internet—he said this was his way of traveling the world.
Robert was ill the last 3 years of his life; he moved from Fresno to Los Osos, California for residential care, ultimately passing on January 11, 2023. He is survived by his children, Edward, Rebecca, and her husband Jeffery, his sister Meave Eleanor (McGarigle) Hannibal, and other extended family members. Robert was a very affable and memorable character, indeed. He will be missed by those who knew and loved him.
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